Romans 15:23–29
(RSV)
23 But now, since I no longer have any
room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come
to you, 24 I hope to see you in
passing as I go to Spain, and to be sped on my journey there by you, once I
have enjoyed your company for a little. 25 At
present, however, I am going to Jerusalem with aid for the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been
pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem; 27 they were pleased to do it, and
indeed they are in debt to them, for if the Gentiles have come to share in
their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material
blessings. 28 When therefore I
have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been raised, I shall
go on by way of you to Spain; 29 and
I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of
Christ.
NOTE: Paul had quite
a plan. He did succeed in gathering the contribution from all the churches. He
did make it back to Jerusalem with the gift. But here is where it gets a little
fuzzy. While he did return to Rome as he planned in verse 29, he spent two plus
years in Israel, which was probably a little longer than he hoped. Also, he was
in Caesarea (not Jerusalem) most of the time and he was in prison. He did get
to Rome and he did stay in Rome (a little more than in "passing," vs
24) but also under house arrest. The history from this point becomes murky. He
was probably killed in Rome with Peter around 68 AD, but some accounts suggest
he made it to Spain and then back to Rome. So Paul did have a plan, and so did
God--only, God's plan superseded Paul's. And I have no doubt Paul expected that
and welcomed that. It is good to have plans, but ultimately it is God's plan
that we want. I certainly want to continue in disciplemaking as I have for 38
years. I enjoy working with individuals. I know that it needs to work better in
the church, and I have not seen many churches that truly have made disciples. I
long to help the body grow as God intended it to grow.
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